Gangnam-gu Resumes Direct Market in Step with Daily Life Recovery

June 23 Local Sale of Paldo Specialty Products at District Office Small Parking Lot... Pre-Orders by Phone Available June 14-16

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun) is reopening the face-to-face direct transaction market, which was suspended due to COVID-19, after 2 years and 5 months, and will hold the ‘Paldo Specialty Products Direct Transaction Market’ on the 23rd at the small parking lot of the district office.

Gangnam-gu has held the ‘Holiday Direct Transaction Market’ every year at the district office parking lot, but after the ‘2020 Lunar New Year Direct Transaction Market,’ on-site sales were suspended and only conducted online.

The market, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day, will feature participation from about 10 local governments, farms, and traditional markets nationwide, selling seasonal fruits such as chamoe (Korean melon) and watermelon, as well as regional agricultural and specialty products like mushrooms, garlic, Korean beef (Hanwoo), and dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) at prices 5-30% lower than market prices. Additionally, from 9:30 a.m. on the event day, a ‘Mobile Knife Sharpening Service’ will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If on-site purchase is difficult on the day, pre-purchase applications can be made from the 14th to the 16th. Interested persons can refer to the product list in the leaflet available on the district office website and at 22 community service centers, then apply by phone to the Gangnam-gu Office Regional Economy Division or the community center. After applying, payment should be transferred to the designated account, and from the 20th, producers will sequentially ship the products to the buyers’ addresses.

Lee Gi-seon, head of the Regional Economy Division, said, “This event was prepared to promote the excellence of specialty products from sister cities and local farms and to expand sales channels that were blocked due to COVID-19, in line with the recovery of daily life.” He added, “We hope many people will participate in this direct transaction market that realizes the value of coexistence and join in creating a ‘Happy Gangnam for All.’”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.